1. General Information

Provision
The law governing ship registration in Malaysia is the Part IIC, Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

Port of Registry
The Ports of registry for Malaysia International Ship is Labuan.

Shipowner Eligibility
Registrar General may register a ship as a Malaysian International Ship, if it is owned by a corporation that satisfies the following requirements:

1. Incorporated in Malaysia
2. An office of the corporation is established in Malaysia
3. The majority of the shareholding, including voting shares, of the corporation are not held by Malaysian citizens

Ship Manager Eligibility
The owner of a ship shall, before applying for a ship to be registered, appoint a ship manager whom shall be:

1. A Malaysian citizen having his permanent residence in Malaysia or
2. A company incorporated in Malaysia and having its principal place of business in Malaysia

Vessel Age and Survey Requirements
No ship shall be registered under Malaysia International Ship Registry unless:

1. It is fitted with mechanical means of propulsion
2. It is not less than 1,600 gross tonnage
3. The age of the ship is not more than 15 years if it is tanker or a bulk carrier or not more than 20 years if it is of type other than a tanker or a bulk carrier.

Surveys are conducted by Ships Surveyor working under the direction of the Surveyor-General who may also authorised classification societies on his behalf.

Authorised Classification Society

1. American Bureau of Shipping
2. Bureau Veritas
3. Det Norske Veritas
4. Germanischer Lloyd
5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping
6. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
Contact Points

The schedule of fees are as follows:

Initial Registration

Vessels up to 50 tons gross RM 10.00
Vessels over 50 to 100 tons RM 15.00
Vessels over 100 to 200 tons RM 20.00

with RM 5.00 for every additional 100 tons or fraction of 100.

Annual Tonnage Fees
An annual tonnage fee of RM 0.30 per gross tonnage shall be paid by the owner of a ship at the time of the initial registration or renewal of registration of the ship and thereafter annually on or before the anniversary date of the initial registration or renewal of registration, as the case may be.

Certificate of Survey
Fees for the issuance of the Certificate of Survey.

1. The following fees are charged for the issuance of a Certificate of Survey:
i) Issuance of Certificate of Survey and amendment – RM 100.00
ii) Inspection of the carving and marking – RM 30.00
iii) Any other charges incurred directly by the Surveyor of Ships on inspection of the vessel including RM230 per day or part of the day if the inspection is conducted outside Malaysia or Singapore
2. The fees charged is as per The Merchant Shiping (Surveyors of Ships and Radio Surveyors)(Fees)Rules in force.

List of Ships Registration Forms

2. Application for Vessel Name

An application in writing to Registrar of Ships to receive vessel's name approval :

1. Proposed name for a Malaysia vessel must be approved by the Registar General of Ships. Owners should apply for the vessel’s name at least 14 weeks in advance before the date at which the vessel is supposed to be registered.
2. Three (3) names can be submitted for approval. An approved name is valid for a period of twelve months.
3. Form Application for Name of Ship (MISR/BKI/01/05) to be used.

Submit other relevant documents as required for this stage :

1. Appointment / Cancellation of an Authorised Officer (MISR/BKI/03/05)
2. Application for Reserve Prefix/Suffix Name of Ship (MISR/BKI/02/05)

3. Provisional Registration Process

Vessels are generally first registered on a provisional basis by the Registrar of Ships or a Malaysian diplomatic or consular officer. The following documents must be presented for provisional registration of the vessel:

1. Form

o Application To Register A Ship form (MISR/BKI/05/05)
o Application for Allotment of an International Call Sign form (MISR/BKI/07/05)
o Form Declaration of Ownership and Nationality (MISR/BKI/06/05)
o Appointment / Cancelation / Change Of Ship Manager (MISR/BKI/04/05)
2. Certificate :

o Certificate of Approved Name
o Provisional Certificate of Survey (COS) issued by Ships Surveyor of Malaysia
3. Statutory declaration of ownership must include the following details -
o Name of the ship and its existing tonnage
o Statement of the date when and place where the vessel was built, or if the date and place of building are not known, a statement that the declarant does not know the date and place of the building of the ship
o Statement as to the owner of the ship and the citizenship of such owner, and if the vessel is owned by more than one person, the number of shares each is entitled
o Statement of the name of the master of the Vessel and his citizenship
o Statement that no other person (other than those declared) is entitled as owner of any legal or beneficial interest in the ship or any share thereof
o Except where the operator and the owner of the ship are the same person, the name and citizenship of the operator of the ship
o Declaration that the particulars stated in the form are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
4. If individual - photocopy of citizen certificate
5. If corporation
o Certified true copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation
o Certification under common seal that the majority shareholding including voting share of the corporation is held by Malaysian citizens free from trust or obligations in favor of non Malaysian
o Authority Form - appointing the public officer authorized to make declaration on behalf of the owner
6. If applicable during this stage, certification from Customs Department that import duty has been paid. Upon due acceptance of the above documents by the registry, the Registrar will allocate an Official Number to the vessel. Registration may take as quickly as seven (7) working days for issuance of Provisional Registry subject to complete document submitted. The certificate of Provisional Registry is valid for a maximum period of one year from the date of its issue.

4. Permanent Registration Process

Vessels are generally first registered on a provisional basis by the Registrar of Ships or a Malaysian diplomatic or consular officer. The following documents must be presented for provisional registration of the vessel:

1. Application Letter
2. Builder's Certificate or Deletion Certificate
3. Original Bill of Sale duly authenticated
4. Certified Ships Carving and Marking Note
5. Permanent Certificate of Survey (COS) issued by Ships Surveyor of Malaysia.
6. If applicable, certification from Customs Department that import duty has been paid.

Full Registration may take as quickly as seven (7) working days for issuance of Permanent Registry subject to complete document submitted.

5. Certificate of Survey

Procedure For The Application of Certificate of Survey

1. General

a) 'Certificate of Survey' is a certificate issued to the Registrar of Ship which contains the testimonials on the description of the vessel to be registered. It also act as a certificate of seaworthiness for the vessel from the Ships Surveyor to the Registrar of Ships.
b) A Certificate of Survey is issued on: o First registry of the vessel o After major modification conducted on the vessel which alter the vessel's shape, tonnage or any particulars of the vessel as specified in the Certificate of Registry.

2. Application of the Provisional Certificate of Survey

a) Application for the Certificate of Survey shall be made by the Owner to the Ships Surveyor enclosing the following documents:
o Application letter
o A letter requesting the Department to authorise Classification Society of the Owner's choice to survey and issue the relevant statutory certificates and documents including the stability booklet (if applicable). Please indicate certificates required.
o Certificate of Approved Ship Name issued by Registrar of Ships
o Simplified notation of vessel particulars as follows :
o Type o Gross Tonnage
o Net Tonnage
o Deadweight
o Year Built o Place of Built
o Accommodation o Number of crew
o Form Survey 118 – Certificate of Machinery Particulars
o The following plans of the vessel :
o General Arrangement Plan • midship plan • capacity plan (if tanker)
o Stability Booklet (existing vessel)
o A copy of statutory certificates issued under the previous registry including:
o Registry certificate • Builder's certificate (if available) • Provisional Tonnage certificate After all documents have been received by the Ships Surveyor, the Surveyor shall vet through all the documents and issue the Provisional Certificate of Survey to the Registrar of Ships upon payment of the appropriate fees.
3. Application of the Permanent Certificate of Survey
o Application letter
o Brief vessel particulars as follows (for any amendment) :
o Type
o Gross Tonnage
o Net Tonnage
o Deadweight
o Year Built
o Place of Built
o Machinery (engine, auxiliary, kW shaft, etc)
o Accommodation
o Number of crew
o The following plans of the vessel:
o Stability Booklet (if new and after approved by Classification Society)
o A copy of statutory certificates issued by Classification Society certified by Marine Department:
o Builder Certificate (if new)
o Full Term International Tonnage Convention 1969 certificate
o Declaration of carving and marking inspection conducted by Ships Surveyor.

After all documents have been received by the Ships Surveyor, the Surveyor shall vet through all the documents and conducting the inspection of the vessel to verify that all particulars is correct, in seaworthy condition and that all carving and marking have been properly made.

Permanent Certificate of Survey will be issued to the Registrar of Ships upon payment of the appropriate fees for any amendment from previous Provisional Certificate of Survey

The issuance of provisional and permanent COS may take as quickly as seven (7) working days subject to complete document submitted and fulfill survey requirement.

 

CARVING AND MARKING REQUIREMENT

1. Ship’s name should be permanently and conspicuously marked on each bow. The marking plainly cut in or centre punched or engender.

2. Ship’s name, Port of Registry and IMO number permanently and conspicuously marked on stern. The marking plainly either cut in or centre punched or engender.

3. Official Number, Net Tonnage and IMO number permanently and conspicuously marked.

o On the face of the main beam / In the pump room entrance / Aft side of engine room bulkhead.
o The marking plainly cut in / centre punched / engender.
o No other units or marking preceding the Official Number and Net Tonnage marking
O.N : XXXXXX
N.T : XX
IMO : XXXXXXX
o No other markings are to be included in the marking area other than those above specified.

4. All other marking of Ship Name and Port of Registry are to be replaced with the approved name and port of registry e.g. at lifebuoys, lifeboats, safety plans etc.

5. Cargo spaces to be permanently marked on outer surface of longitudinal coamings of cargo hatches, on covers or coamings of cargo tanks, at the entrance to other cargo compartments and in other places where readily visible.

6. Marking to be the letters CC, plainly cut in / welded / centre punched and painted white / yellow on dark background / black on white background.

7. Spaces other than cargo spaces are not required to be marked for 1969 tonnage.

8. IMO Number permanently and conspicuously marked apply to all self-propelled cargo ships 300 GRT and upwards and all passenger ships 100 GRT and upwards engaged on international voyages. The marking shall be in plain Roman capital letters / Arabic numerals not less than 200 mm in height.

9. In a visible place on the stern / side of the hull, amidships port and starboard, above the deepest assigned load line / side of the superstructure, port and starboard / on the front of the superstructure / in the case of passenger ships, on a horizontal surface visible from the air.

10. In the easily accessible place on one of the end transverse bulkheads of the machinery spaces / on one of the hatchways / in case of tankers, in the pump room / in the case of ships with ro-ro spaces, on one of the end transverse bulkheads of the ro-ro spaces.

11. The IMO Number preceded by the abbreviation “IMO”

12. The marking referred to paragraph above except in paragraph 8 shall be in plain Roman capital letters / Arabic numerals not less than 100 mm in height.

GMT